On the heels of two lopsided wins over George Mason University and Ohio State University last week, the No. 11 AU wrestling team tied a team record, notching its 13th win this season after beating Binghamton 25-16 on Friday.
The Bearcats started off strong at 125 pounds, as AU’s Nick Arajau fell to Binghamton’s Derek Steeley, but Kevin Tao brought the Eagles back to within two points with a 10-2 decision at 133 pounds.
Matt Mariacher showed his determination as the 141-pounder out-battled Anwar Goeres, 10-6, giving AU a 7-6 team points lead.
The next weight class, 149 lbs., was a ranked bout, pitting AU’s No. 12, Ganbayar Sanjaa, against the Bearcats’ No. 7, Donnie Vinson. The two started out very evenly, but Sanjaa was able to put together scoring opportunities against his higher-ranked opponent and scored a couple decisive takedowns in the final round to grab the victory.
Senior Steve Fittery, ranked first in the nation at 157 pounds, was expected to win his bout against Matt Kaylor. His speed really shone through, as he seemed to fly around his opponent, managing to score takedown after takedown. Finally, Fittery’s persistence got to Kaylor and Fittery was able to pin him in the third round, his 11th recorded fall this season. Fittery, who has remained in the No. 1 spot for 11 consecutive weeks improved his record to 20-0 overall and put AU ahead 16-6 with the win.
AU’s Patrick Graham struggled for position throughout his 165-pound match against last year’s All-American Justin Lister and wasn’t able to get into any sort of rhythm to take down his opponent and lost his match for the Eagles.
Binghamton continued to roll as Ryan McGarity beat Tanner Shaffer 6-0. Schaffer was systematically worn down by McGarity, forced on his stomach for most of the bout.
It was a similar story at 184 pounds, as Thomas Barreiro lost to No. 15 Nathan Schiedel. Binghamton was on a roll and Schiedel continued to take down Berreiro in order to score as many points as possible, tying the duel, 16-16.
Coach Mark Cody needed to fire up his final two wrestlers before their bouts.
No. 19 Daniel Mitchell’s win over Cody Reed, 9-2, was the deciding bout of the match, determining whether or not the team would gain back the momentum it had lost over the last three matches. It was Mitchell’s fourth win in his last five matches.
Riding the momentum of Mitchell’s late dual win, No. 6 nationally-ranked heavyweight Ryan Flores capped off the Eagles’ victory with a pin of Binghamton’s Lance Moore. The junior was dominant as he scored his first takedown just 20 seconds into the match. The win for No. 6 Flores was his 14th of the year, and his 7th pin.
The Eagles will next take on No. 27 Maryland next weekend at home.
sports@theeagleonline.com
On the heels of two lopsided wins over George Mason University and Ohio State University last week, the No. 11 AU wrestling team tied a team record, notching its 13th win this season after beating Binghamton 25-16 on Friday.
The Bearcats started off strong at 125 pounds, as AU’s Nick Arajau fell to Binghamton’s Derek Steeley, but Kevin Tao brought the Eagles back to within two points with a 10-2 decision at 133 pounds.
Matt Mariacher showed his determination as the 141-pounder out-battled Anwar Goeres, 10-6, giving AU a 7-6 team points lead.
The next weight class, 149 lbs., was a ranked bout, pitting AU’s No. 12, Ganbayar Sanjaa, against the Bearcats’ No. 7, Donnie Vinson. The two started out very evenly, but Sanjaa was able to put together scoring opportunities against his higher-ranked opponent and scored a couple decisive takedowns in the final round to grab the victory.
Senior Steve Fittery, ranked first in the nation at 157 pounds, was expected to win his bout against Matt Kaylor. His speed really shone through, as he seemed to fly around his opponent, managing to score takedown after takedown. Finally, Fittery’s persistence got to Kaylor and Fittery was able to pin him in the third round, his 11th recorded fall this season. Fittery, who has remained in the No. 1 spot for 11 consecutive weeks improved his record to 20-0 overall and put AU ahead 16-6 with the win.
AU’s Patrick Graham struggled for position throughout his 165-pound match against last year’s All-American Justin Lister and wasn’t able to get into any sort of rhythm to take down his opponent and lost his match for the Eagles.
Binghamton continued to roll as Ryan McGarity beat Tanner Shaffer 6-0. Schaffer was systematically worn down by McGarity, forced on his stomach for most of the bout.
It was a similar story at 184 pounds, as Thomas Barreiro lost to No. 15 Nathan Schiedel. Binghamton was on a roll and Schiedel continued to take down Berreiro in order to score as many points as possible, tying the duel, 16-16.
Coach Mark Cody needed to fire up his final two wrestlers before their bouts.
No. 19 Daniel Mitchell’s win over Cody Reed, 9-2, was the deciding bout of the match, determining whether or not the team would gain back the momentum it had lost over the last three matches. It was Mitchell’s fourth win in his last five matches.
Riding the momentum of Mitchell’s late dual win, No. 6 nationally-ranked heavyweight Ryan Flores capped off the Eagles’ victory with a pin of Binghamton’s Lance Moore. The junior was dominant as he scored his first takedown just 20 seconds into the match. The win for No. 6 Flores was his 14th of the year, and his 7th pin.
The Eagles will next take on No. 27 Maryland next weekend at home.
sports@theeagleonline.com
